Folding-machine.



Patented lune l8, l90l.

W. D OWNING &. F. H. WENDT.

FOLDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Oct. 30, 1899.)

4Sheets-Sheet I.

- (No Model.

Afro/Mn.

n4: NORRIS 927E015 1:0,. mm'o-Lrma. wumuarou. 04 c No. 67 ,533. Patented jlunevl8, 19m.

w, nuwums & F. H. WENDT.

FOLDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Oct. 30, 1899.)

,4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

nnlllum 15% ATTORNEY.

m: "cams Pzrzas cu PHUTOLITHQ. wxsumaron. u. c.

No. 676,533. Patented lune l8, l90l.

W. DOWNING &. F. H. WENDT.

FOLDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Oct. 30, 1899.) (No Model.) 7 4 Sheets$heet 3.

WIN l'?, I

ATTORNEY.

'01: "ohms PETERS 00.. FHbYoumo. WASHINGTON, o c.

Patented lune l8, l90l.

w. uowuma & F. H. WENDT.

- FOLDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Oct. 80; 1899.)

' 4 SheetsvSheet 4.

(No Model.)

I ATTORNEY.

TAT

FOLDING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 676,533, dated June 18, 1901,. Application filed October 30, 1899. $erial No. 735,238. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WELLINGTON Down- ING and FREDRICK H. WENDT, citizens of the United States, residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding-Machines; and We do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to paper-folding machines; and it consists in certain improvements in the construction thereof, as will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

More particularly, the invention consists in providing a paper-folding machine with feed ing devices arranged tocarry the paperto a proper position over the folding-rolls and means for moving said feeding apparatus out of position to effect the movement of the paper when acted upon by the folding-rolls; also, an arrangement of registering mechanism which will permit the introduction of the paper in adirection transverse to its movement through the folding-rolls, as well as important details of c0nstruction,which \villappear more fully in the following description and claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as follows:

Fighre 1 shows a plan view of the machine. Fig. 2 shows a side elevation from theright of Fig. l of the machine.- Fig. 3 shows a rear elevation of the machine, the point of view being from the bottom of Fig. 1. Figs.

4 and 5 show details of construction of the point device.

A marks the front part of the frame; A, the rear of the frame; A"*, A A A and A, cross-pieces on the frame. These with braces and cross pieces (not shown) comprise the frame. 13 B mark the first-fold rolls, and B B the second-fold rolls, which are set transversely to the first-fold rolls, as commonly. The machine is driven from the drive-pulley 0, fixed on the shaft 0. A loose pulley C is also provided, as in the ordinary construction. Tapes H pass across the machine in a direction parallel to the axis of the first-fold rolls or transversely to the direction taken by the paper when actuated by the first-fold rolls. The tapes pass over the loose pulleys h at the rear end of the machine and are driven by the pulleys 7L2 at the front of the machine. carried by arms h, which are fixed on a fixed shaft II. The shaft H is carried by suitable brackets on the frame. The-arms h are adjustable on the shaft H to tighten the tapes H. The pulleys 71 are fixed on a shaft H and this shaftis journaledin brackets h, extending from the frame. The shaft H is driven by a gear h which is actuated, through the intermediate gear 71 by agear c on the shaft 0. An idler 71, deflects the tapes from the bottom of the drive-pulleys h? to a position parallel to the upper line of tapes passing over said pulleys. Above the pulleys h and resting on the tapes is a friction-roller I, which is carried by the arms '5. The arms 7 are fixed on a rock-shaftl. Extending from this rock-shaft toward the rear end of the machine are a series of arms 2', on which are rolls i one positioned over each tape. The arms 2" andi are so arranged relatively to each other that when the roll I is in contact The pulleys hare with the tapes on the rolls 71 the rolls '5 are lifted from the tapes, and vice versa.

As the paper passes through the machine it passes over the bars E, which are arranged below the path of the paper and just below the level of the tapes. They are secured to the frame by the small brackets 6. Above the paper are arranged a series of rods f, which are secured by a bar F, which extends across the machine beneath the arms 1'. The rodsfextend through openings in abackstop G. As the paper is fed into the machine the roller 1 is kept in contact with it to accelerate its speed, and after the paper has passed into the machine and assumed its proper position over the rolls the rock-shaft I is actuated, bringing the rolls t down upon the tapes H and depressing them so that they are brought beneath the level of the tapes of the bars E, so that as the paper is carried through the first-folding-rolls the tapes do not interfere with the proper movement of the paper.

The rocking of the shaft I is accomplished by the following mechanism: A shaft D is 2 states driven from the shaft 0 through the beveled gears c and (1. At the outer end of the shaft D is a gear d which meshes with the gear on a shaft K. The shaft K extends entirely across the machine and at its front end is provided with a cam 1 A rock-lever 1 is pivoted at i on the frame and provided at its lower end with a cam-roller t. A rod 1 is .connected with the rock-lever I and passes through a bracket 2' on the frame. A spring 11 is tensioned between the bracket 1? and the collar i on the rod, so as to press the rod upwardly. The effect of this pressure of the spring is to keep the cam-roller i in contact with the periphery'of the cam 1 Extending upwardly from the end of the cam-lever I opposite the roller i is a rod 11 which is connected at its upper end with an arm i The arm 2' is fixed on the rock-shaft l. The cam I is so shaped and positioned on the shaft K as to give the rocking movement to the lever 1 and consequently the shaft 1, at the time in the movement of the machine just hereinbefore described.

A starting-blade J is provided for the firstfold rolls, and this is carried by the armsj, and these arms are secured to the rock-shaft J. The arm 3" extends from the rock-shaft J, and on the lower end of this arm is a camroller j A cam J is fixed on the shaft K and is so shaped and positioned as to give to the starting-bar the proper movement at the proper time. The weight of the starting-bar and the armsj andj is sufficient to keep the roller j in contact with the cam J Owing to the different sizes of sheets of paper andimperfect registering mechanism used on presses it often happens that the printing matter does not uniformly cover the same parts of the sheets relatively to the edges of the sheets. In order to effect a fold in proper register with the printed matter rather than with the edges of the sheet, registering mechanisms have been devised for registering the sheet relatively to the printed matter rather than to the edges of the sheet. To do this, slits have been made in'the sheet by a slit mechanism in the printing-press, which acts upon the paper at the same time the paper is printed, so as to have exactly the same relative position to the printed matter on each sheet. \Ve have devised a means for registering paper on folding-machines with such slits where the paper is fed into the machine in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the folding-rolls by which it is folded after the registering by said registering device. This mechanism is as follows: Two of the bars E are cut off, so that their end will come just in front of the slits when the paper is brought to the proper register. The end stop G is arranged to stop the paper with the slit just at the end of the bars E. Points L are arranged over the paper in line with the bars E, which are arranged in register with the slits in the paper. Mechanism is provided to raise and lower the points L. The paper as it moves per until after the paper is brought completely into the bite of the rolls, the movement of the paper when actuated by the rolls swinging the points L on their pivots. This hinge or pivot mechanism we term a yielding support for the point device. Any device may be made operative with the axis of the pivot arranged in different directions; but where the axis is arranged parallel to the direction of movement of the paper, as in the device shown, the'swinging movement of the point device not only allows it to yield with the movement of the paper, but carries it out of the slit as the paper moves into the rolls. A weight arranged at an angle to the points L, brings the points L back to their normal position (in the machine shown the perpendicular position) and a stop Z limits its backward movement.

The mechanism for actuating the points L is as follows: A cam L is fixed on the shaft K and has the cam-surface on the side. A

rock-lever L extends from a rock-shaft L and is provided at its lower end with a camroll Z. A rod L extends from the lever L across the machine into a perforation on the frame. A collar Z is provided on the rod, and a spring Z is tensioned against the said collar and the frame and presses the roller 1, through the medium of the rod L and lever L against the cam L. The roclrlever L is journaled in the brackets Z on the frame. Extending'upwardly from the rock-lever L are the rock-arms L from which extendthe links L The links L are connected to the lower arms of the belLcrank levers L The bell-crank levers L are journaled on a stud Z on the arms L. The arms L 'are fixed on a fixed cross-shaft L The cross-shaft L is secured to the brackets Z and Z arranged on the cross-pieces A and A, respectively. Extending from the bell-crank lever L is a pin F. This pin is of considerable length and extends through a slot Z, which is arranged in the upper end of a slide L The slide L is arranged to reciprocate in a guide L The guide L is secured in a bracket 2 which is fixed on the cross-shaft L The slide works in a dovetailed groove in the guide and is held in place by this formation. Extending outwardly from the slide is an arm Z and extending from the arm Z and from the slide L are the cone-pins l, which form the pivot Z-for the points L. The cam L is so shaped and positioned on the shaft K as to give to the points L the proper movement at the proper timethat is, to lower the points L below the level of the rods E after the forward edge of the paper has passed by it and to hold it in this position during the receding movement of the end gage G and depression of the tapes H and the starting movement of the paper through the rolls. The points are then raised above the level of the lower edge of the rods f and held in this position until the front edge of a subsequent sheet has passed by it. By making the pin Z of considerable length the guide mechanism L may be shifted on the cross-rod L so as to adjust the points should there be any variation in the slits in this direction. The short rods E are also adjustable sidewise, so as to be brought in register with the registering-points in its different adjustments. A rod E extends from the adjacent rod E through the short rod E, and the short rod E may be fixed on this support E by a set-block e.

The mechanism for effecting the movement of the stop G is as follows: The stop is carried by a slide G, which is arranged in a guide formed by a bracket g. The slide G is provided with aslot g Bolts pass through this slot and through brackets on the stop G. These are secured by the thumb-nuts g By this mechanism the stop G may be adjusted along the slot G. A lever G is connected with the outer end of the slide G and is fixed on a rock-shaft G The rock-shaft G is journaled in brackets g which extend from the frame. An arm G extends from the rockshaft and has at its inner end the cam-roller A shaft G journaled in brackets 9 is arranged across the machine and is driven from the shaft K through the bevel-gears 7t and g. A cam G is fixed on this shaft. The cam-roller G is arranged to roll on this cam. A rod G extends from the lever G into a perforation in the cross-piece A of the frame. A collar g is arranged on the rod, and a spring g is arranged between this collar and the cross-piece A and tensioned to press the rod G upwardly, and consequently to hold the cam-roller g in contact with the cam G The cam G is so shaped and. so positioned on the rod G as to give to the stop G proper receding movement at the time of the movement of the machine hereinbefore described.

The first-fold rolls are driven one from the other, and one of them is driven through a gear on the shaft D. (Not shown.) A bevelgear cl on the shaft D drives a bevel-gear b, which is arranged to drive one of the rolls B. The rolls B are driven one from the other as ordinarily by gears at their end.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The paper is delivered passed under the roller I to the end stop G. This brings its edge by the roller '5 The point L after the front edge has passed it is depressed so as to press the paper below the plane of the tapes of the bars E. The'stop G is then drawn back by the mechanism hereinbefore described. The tapes press the pa.

on the tapes II and is per forward until the slits in the paper come into contact with the edge of the points L. The arms t" are then depressed to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. Band depress the top'or driving span of the tapes out of contact with the paper. The starting-blade then descends, starting the paper between the folding-rolls B B. The movement of the paper draws the points L L toward the rolls, the pivot Z allowing this movement. The points L are then raised by the mechanism herein described, which completes the cycle of the machine.

What we claim as new is- 1. In a paper-folding machine, the combination of the folding-rolls; of a sheet-conveying mechanism arranged to carry the paper into position over said rolls; and means for carrying said conveying mechanism out of actuating position while the paper is moving through said folding-rolls.

2. In a paper-folding machine, the combination of the folding-rolls; of paper-conveying mechanism arranged to convey the paper in a direction parallel with the axes of said rolls over said rolls; and means for carrying said conveying mechanism out of actuating position while the paper is moving through said folding-rolls.

3. In a paper-folding machine the combination with the folding-rolls; of conveyingtapes arranged to carry the paper over said rolls; and means for moving said tapes out of contact with said paper during a folding movement of said paper through said rolls.

4. In a paper-folding machine, the combination with the folding-rolls; of conveyingtapes arranged to carry the paperin a direction parallel to the axes of said rolls over said rolls; and means for moving said tapes out of contact with said paper during a folding movement of said paper through said rolls.

5. In a paper-folding machine, the combination of the folding-rolls; conveying-tapes arranged to carry the paper over said rolls; bars for sustaining said paper; means for depressing said tapes below the level of said bars during a folding movement of said paper.

6. In a paper-folding machine the combination of the folding-rolls; conveying-tapes arranged to convey the paper in a direction parallel to the axes of the rolls; bars for sustaining said paper; means for depressing said tapes below the level of said bars during a folding movement of said paper.

'7. In a paper-folding machine, the combination of the folding-rolls; tapes arranged to carry the paper over said rolls; a rock-shaft; a roller carried by said shaft, and adapted to be brought into contact with said tapes during the movement of said paper through the machine; a depressing-roller carried by said shaft at the opposite side of the conveyingroller; and means for rocking said shaft to bring said depressing-roller against the tapes after the passage of the paper and to depress the tapes out of con-tact'with the paper.

8. In a paper-folding machine, the combination with the conveying-tapes; the rockshaft, I; the rolls, I and i carried thereby; means for rocking the shaft, I, to bring the roll, I, into contact with the device duringa passage of the paper and to bring the roll, 1 into a depressing position after the passage of the paper. p

9. In a paper-folding machine, the couibi nation with means for conveying the paper into the machine and against the point device; said point device arranged to operate upon slits in said paper and to arrest the movement of the paper by engagement with said slits; a slide carrying said point device; a guide for said slide; and means for reciprocating said slide in said guide for bringing the point into and out of operative position.

10. Ina paper-folding machine, the combination of means for conveying paper into the machine, and against a point device; said point device arranged to operate on slits in said paper and to arrest the movement of the paper by engagement with said slits; a slide carrying said point device; a guide for said slide; means for reciprocating said slide in said guide for bringing the point device into and out of operative position; and means for adjusting said guide in the direction of the movement of the paper into the machine.

11. In a paper-folding machine, the combination with folding-rolls, means for conveying the paper over said rolls, a point device arranged to operate against the edges of slits in the paper conveyed into the machine by said means, and to arrest the movement of the paper so conveyed by abutment against the edges of said slits, and a yielding support for said point device arranged to permit movement of said device with the paper in its movement through the folding-rolls.

12. In a paper-folding machine, the combination with folding-rolls, means for conveying paper over said rolls, a point device arranged to operate against the edges of slits in paper conveyed into the machine by said means, and to arrest the movement of the paper so conveyed by abutment against the edges of said slits, and a swinging support 1 for saidpoint device arranged to permit movement of said device with the paper in its movement through the folding-rolls.

13. In a paper-folding machine, the combination with folding-rolls, means for conveying paper over said rolls, a point device arranged to operate against the edges of slits in paper conveyed into the machine by said means, and to arrest the movement of the paper so conveyed by abutment against the edges of said slits, and a swinging support for said device having the axis of the pivot parallel to the direction of the movement of the paper into the machine; for the purpose described.

14. In a paper-folding machine, the combination with folding-rolls, means for conveying paper over said rolls, a point device arranged to operate against the edges of slits in paper conveyed into the machine by said means,and

to arrest the movement of the paper so conveyed by abutment against the edges of said slits, a yielding support for said point device arranged to permit movement of said device with the paper in its movement through the folding-rolls, and means for bringing the points to normal position, after the folding movement with the paper.

15. In a paper-folding machine, the combination with folding-rolls, means for conveying paper into the machine over said rolls in a direction parallel to the axis of said rolls, a point device arranged to operate against slits in said paper, as it is conveyed into the machine, and arrest the movement of the paper by engagement with said slits, and a yielding support for said device arranged to permit the movement of the point with the paper in its movement into the folding-rolls.

16. In a paper-folding machine, the combination with the folding-roll; means for conveying paper into the machine over said roll in a direction parallel to the axes of said roll; a point device arranged to operate against slits in said paper, said point device being arranged at the side of said folding-rolls; and a pivot for said point device to permit an inward swing of the point with a folding movement of the paper.

17. In a paper-folding machine, thecombination of a folding-roll, means for conveying paper into the machine over said roll, a stop for stopping the impetus of said sheet, a point device arranged to engage a slit in said paper, means for moving said stop in a direction to allow the paper to move against the registering-point, and a yielding support for said point device, arranged to permit of the movement of said point with the paperin its movement into the folding-rolls.

18. In a paper-folding machine the combination with the folding-rolls; means for conveying the paper into the machine over said rolls in a direction parallel to the axes of said rolls; a stop for stopping the impetus of said sheet; a point device arranged to engage a slit in said paper; means for moving said stop in the direction of the axes of the rolls to allow the paper to move against the registering-point, and a yielding support for said point device arranged to permit of the movement of said point with the paper in its movement into the folding-rolls.

19. In a paper-folding machine, the combination with the folding-rolls; a sustainingbar for sustaining the paper, said bar having a shoulder in the path of a slit in an incoming sheet; means for moving the paper'over said bar in a direction parallel to the axes of the rolls; and a point device arranged to operate in front of the shoulder formed by said bar to open said slit, and to stop said paper by the abutment of the edge of said slit upon said point.

'20. In a paper-folding machine, the combination with the folding-rolls; a sustainingbar for sustaining the paper, said bar having a shoulder in the path of a slit in an incoming sheet; means for moving the paper over said bar in a direction parallel to the axes of the rolls; a point device arranged to operate in front of the shoulder formed by said bar to open said slit upon said point; and apivot for said point device to allow it to swing toward the folding-roll during a folding movement of the paper.

21. A registering mechanism for paperfolding machines comprising a fixed guide; a slide arranged to reciprocate in said guide; a point carried by said slide; and a pivot for said point arranged to allow the point to swing in a direction transverse to the registering movement of the paper to said point.

22. In a paper-registering mechanism, the combination with the rod, L of the arm, L

- bell-crank lever, L slide L point, L, pivoted in said slide; the guide, L and the bracket, Z fixed on the shaft, L for supporting said guide.

23. In a paper-registering mechanism, the combination of the shaft, L arm, L bellcrank lever, L journaled thereon; pin, Z extending from said bellcrank lever; the slotted slide, L engaging said pin; the guide, L supporting said slide; the bracket, Z adjustably arranged on the shaft, L and the point, L, carried by the slide, L

24:. In a paper-folding machine, the combination with the folding-rolls; tapes arranged to convey paper into the machine in a direction parallel to the axes of said rolls; bars arranged to sustain the paper; a registering device arranged to register by operating upon said slits in said paper; and means for depressing the tapes below the level of the sustaining-bars during a folding movement of the paper.

25. In a paper-folding machine, the combination with the folding-rolls; tapes arranged to convey paper into the machine in a direction parallel to the axes of said rolls; bars arranged to sustain the paper; a paper-registering point arranged to operate upon slits of an incoming sheet of paper, said registeringpoint being pivoted to allow it to swing toward the paper-folding roll during a folding movement of the paper; and means for depressing the tapes below the level of the sustainingbars during the folding movement of the paper.

26. In a paper-folding machine, the combination with the paper-foldin g rolls; the tapes arranged to carry the paper into the machine in a direction parallel to the axes of said rolls; the rock-shaft, l, carrying the rolls, I and 2' at the opposite side thereof; means for rocking said shaft to bring the roll, I, into contact with the tapes during the incoming movement of the sheet, and to bring the roll, 6

into depressing position after the passage of the sheet; sustaining-bars for sustaining the paper after the depression of the tapes; a registering-point for operating upon the slit in the incoming paper; and a pivot for said registering-point to allow it to swing toward the folding-roll during the folding movement of the paper.

27. In a paper-folding machine, the combination with the paper-foldin g rolls; the tapes arranged to carry the paper into the machine in a direction parallel to the axes of said rolls; the rock-shaft, I, carrying the rolls, I and '5 at the opposite side thereof; means for rocking said shaft to bring the roll, I, into contact with the tapes during the incoming movement of the sheet, and to bring the roll, i into dc pressing position after the passage of the sheet; sustaining-bars for sustaining the paper after the depression of the tapes; a stop, G; a registering-point, L, arranged to operate upon a slit in the paper; a slide, L for carrying said point; a pivot, Z, for allowing the said point to swing with a folding movement of the paper; the guide, L for carrying said slide; means for reciprocating said slide in proper time ,to operate upon said slit; and means for moving said stop away from the incoming sheet during the registering move ment of the sheet.

28. In a paper-folding machine, the combination with the fold-rolls; conveying-tapes for conveying the paper over said rolls in a direction parallel to the axes of said rolls; a point device arranged to act upon the slits in the sheets of paper fed to said machine; a pivot for allowing said point device to swing with said paper during a folding movement of the paper; and means for adjusting said point device in a direction transversely to the incoming movement of the sheet.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

WELLINGTON DOI/VNING. FREDRIOK H. VVENDT. Witnesses:

M. BURY, II. 0. LORD, 

